Condensation of aromatic compounds with unsaturated organic compounds in the presence of composite catalysts



United States Patent CDNDENSATION 0F AROMATIC COMPOUNDS WITH UNSATURATED ORGANIC OM OUNDS IN THE PRESENCE OF COMPOSITE CATALYSTS Herman Pines, Evanston, Ill., and Vladimir N, Ipafietf, deceased, late oi Chicago, 11]., by Vladimir Haensel, Hinsdale, Herman Pines, Evanston, and Vincetta Kibort, Chicago, Ill., executors, assignors to Universal Oil Products Company, Des Plaines, 111,, a corporation of Delaware a N0 Drawing, Application June 7, 1 954,

Serial N0. 435,033 I 20 Claims. (Cl. 260-668) This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 219,314, filed April 4, 1951, now abandoned.

This application relates to the condensation of unsaturated organic compounds with aromatic compounds and to products formed thereby. This invention relates more particularly to the side chain alkylation with an olefin of an alkylaromatic hydrocarbon in which a carbon atom combined with the aromatic nucleus is also combined with at least one hydrogen atom. The process relates more particularly to the side chain ethylation of an alkylbenzene hydrocarbon having at least one hydrogen atom combined with the carbon atom in the alpha position to the benzene ring.

The condensation of aromatic compounds with unsaturated organic compounds such as the alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons with olefinic hydrocarbons has been the subject of many investigations over a long period of time. Many different catalysts have been used including various mineral acids and acid-acting compounds but in all of these reactions nuclear condensation has always been effected. Thus in the acid-catalyzed alkylation of aromatic compounds having attached to a carbon atom of the ring a saturated carbon atom to which is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the entering alkyl group attaches to the aromatic nucleus. No direct catalytic method of introducing the alkyl group into the side chain has been known, particularly no direct catalytic method which can be utilized at reasonably low operating pressures and moderate temperatures. Such can now be accomplished by utilization of the process of this invention.

We have tound that side chain alkylation of toluene and other carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having a nonolefinic double bond such as pyridine, quinoline, pyr role, etc., and having attached to; a nuclear carbon atom a saturated carbon atom to which is attached at least one hydrogen atom may also be used as starting materials to efiect side chain alkylation with an olefin at moderate temperatures and pressures in the presence of a catalyst comprising essentially a free alkali metal and a minor promoting amount of an organic halide. The carbon atom which is attached to the aromatic nucleus of said aromatic compounds is referred to as a saturated carbon atom because it is a part of a 'nonolefinic group such as an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkalkyl group, or an aralkyl group containing no ethylenic double bonds or similar unsaturation. The carbon atom, which is attached to an aromatic nucleus is thus part of a saturated group including an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkalkyl group, and an aralkyl group (such as a CsH5.CH2 group) containing no olefinic unsaturation.

An object of this invention is to react an unsaturated organic compound with an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic and heterocyclic "ice . 2 aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a nonolefinic or saturated carbon atom to which is attached at least one hydrogen atom.

An additional object is to react a monoolefin with an alkylaromatic hydrocarbon to form an aromatic hydrocarbon with a longer alkyl group.

Another object ,of this inlvention is to condense ethylene with the side chain of an aromatic compound having attached to a nuclear .carbon atom a saturated carbon atom to which is attached at least one hydrogen atom.

Another object of this invention is to condense ethylene with the side chain of an alkylaromatic hydrocarbon having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of said alkyl group to which is attached at least one hydrogen atom.

Still another object of this invention is to condense ethylene with the alkyl side chain of an alkylbenzene hydrocarbon, said side chain containing an alpha carbon atom to which is attached a replaceable hydrogen atom.

A further object of this invention is to condense ethylene with the cycloalkyl group of a cycloalkyl benzene hydrocarbon, said cycloalkyl group having a hydrogen atom combined with the carbon atom of the cycloalkyl group which is attached to the aromatic ring.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a process for the side chain alkylation of an alkylaromatic hydrocarbon.

A further object of this invention is to condense ethylene with a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon having at least one of the rings saturated and having at least one hydrogen atom combined with the carbon .atom of the saturated ring which is attached to the aromatic ring.

An additional .object of this invention is to provide a method for producing an aromatic compound containing a longer hydrocarbon side chain, said compound being useful in the production of detergents, wetting agents, and the like. 7

One embodiment of this invention relates to a process which comprises reacting a nonconjugated olefinic hydrocarbon and an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkalkyl group, and an aralkyl group and to which last-named'carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the process being carried out at a temperature of from about to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and .of a minor promoting amount of an organic compound represented by the formula RX wherein R is a member of the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, and alkaryl radicals and X is a halogen atom, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

A second embodiment of this invention relates to a process which comprises reacting a nonconjugated olefinic hydrocarbon and an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of .a minor promoting amount of an organic halide.

Another embodiment of this invention relates to a process which comprises reacting a nonconjugated olefinic hydrocarbon and an aromatic compound selected from the group cosisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an alkyl chloride.

Still another embodiment of this invention relates to a process which comprises reacting a nonconjugated olefinic hydrocarbon and an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and a minor promoting amount of an aryl chloride.

A further embodiment of this invention relates to a process which comprises reacting a monoolefin with an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkalkyl group, and an aralkyl group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydro gen atom, the process being carried out at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an organic compound represented by the formula RX wherein R is a member of the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, and alkaryl, and X is a halogen.

A further embodiment of this invention relates to process which comprises reacting an alkene with an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkalkyl group, and an aralkyl group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the process being carried out at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an organic compound represented by the formula RX wherein R is a member of the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, and alkaryl, and X is a halogen.

A further embodiment of this invention relates to a process which comprises reacting ethylene with an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkalkyl group, and an aralkyl group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the process being carried out at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an organic compound represented by the formula RX wherein R is a member of the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, and alkaryl, and X is a halogen.

A still further embodiment of this invention relates to a process which comprises reacting ethylene and an aromatic hydrocarbon having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom at a temperature of from about to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an organic halide.

A still further embodiment of this invention relates to a process which comprises reacting ethylene and a benzene hydrocarbon having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an organic halide.

An additional embodiment .of this invention relates to a process for producing n-propylbenzene which comprises reacting ethylene and toluene at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a catalyst comprising essentially a free alkali metal and a minor promoting amount of an organic halide, and recovering n-propylbenzene from the resultant reaction product.

Still another embodiment of this invention relates to a process for producing n-propylbenzene which comprises reacting ethylene and toluene at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a catalyst comprising essentially free sodium and a minor promoting amount of ortho-chlorotoluene.

The compounds with which unsaturated organic compounds are condensed in our process comprise aromatic compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom. By the term aromatic compound we mean to include not only alkylated benzenes, substituted benzenes, naphthalenes, and derivatives thereof but also.

all compounds containing the stable ring or nucleus such as is present in benzene and which possess unsaturation in the sense that benzene does, but which have no ethylenic unsaturation. Consequently, it can be seen that the term aromatic compound, in the sense in which it is used in this specification and the appended claims, includes not only carbocyclic compounds, but also heterocyclic compounds having stable nuclei. The carbocyclic compounds may have a benzene, naphthalene, etc., nucleus. The heterocyclic compounds may have a pyridine, furan, thiophene, pyrrole, pyrazole, etc. nucleus. In addition, the aromatic compounds contemplated for use in our process may contain both a carbocyclic ring and a heterocyclic ring such as is found in indole and in carbazole. Also, the aromatic compounds may contain both a benzene nucleus and a cycloalkane nucleus such as is found in tetralin and in indan.

As hereinbefore stated, the aromatic compounds preferred for use in our process contain a saturated side chain, said chain being attached to a nuclear carbon atom by a saturated carbon atom, that is a carbon atom that is bonded by univalent bonds to four other atoms. The saturated carbon atom should have at least one hydrogen atom attached thereto. These requisites are desirable for the reason that aromatic compounds, such as tert-butylbenzene, which do not have a hydrogen atom attached to the alpha carbon atom, show very little or no tendency under the conditions of operation employed in our process to undergo condensation of the type herein taught. Similarly, styrene, in which the alpha carbon atom in the side chain is unsaturated, does not condense with unsaturated organic compounds in the manner herein specified. Thus, the preferred aromatic compounds are those in which the alpha carbon atom of the side chain is saturated and in which said alpha carbon atom has at least one hydrogen atom attached thereto. The side chain may comprise only one carbon atorri as the methyl group in toluene, or it may comprise a number of saturated carbon atoms in straight chain or branched-chain relation such as the n-butyl radical or the isobutyl radical in n-butylbenzene and in isobutylbenzene respectively. The substituent need not necessarily be an aliphatic chain; it may be a cycloalkane radical as in tetralin or as in cyclohexylbenzene or an aralkyl group as a benzyl group in diphenylmethane.

Suitable alkylaromatic hydrocarbons include toluene, ethylbenzene, n-propylbenzene, isopropylbenzene (cumene), n-butylbenzene, isobutylbenzene, sec-butylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, mesitylene, methylnaphthalene, and the like. Other suitable aromatic hydrocarbons include cyclohexylbenzene, indan, diphenylmethane, cyclopentylbenzene, methylcyclopentylbenzene, cyclohexylbenzene, methylcyclohexylbenzene, m e t h y lethylbenzene, etc.

The aromatic ring in the compounds herein referred to may contain other substituents such as a chloro group, a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a nitro group, and the like.

The aromatic reactants employed in our process are condensed with nonconjugated unsaturated organic compounds. The unsaturated organic compounds are ole finic in character and include monoolefins and particularly ethylene. For the purposes of this invention, aromatic compounds such as benzene are not regarded as being unsaturated. Examples of unsaturated organic compounds suitable for use in this process include monoolefins such as ethylene, propylene, l-butene, Z-butene, and isobutylene, along with other monoolefins of higher molecular weight; nonconjugated dienes such as 2,5-dimethyl-1,5- hexadiene and nonconjugated polyolefins containing more than two pairs of double bonds per molecule. As stated above, ethylene is particularly preferred as are other monoolefins in which the alpha carbon atom adjacent to the double bond is completely saturated, that is, contains no hydrogen atoms such as in 3,3-dimethyl-1-butene. Other similar unsaturated compounds are well-known to those skilled in the art.

Catalysts which are useful in this process include free alkali metals and a minor promoting amount of an organic compound represented by the formula RX wherein R is a member of the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, and alkaryl radicals and X is a halogen atom. Of the alkali metals including lithium, sodium, potassium, rubinium, and cesium, the more plentiful sodium and potassium are generally preferred and particularly sodium is preferred because of its relatively low cost. These alkali metals are utilized in conjunction with a minor promoting amount of the organic halides represented by the formula RX as indicated hereinabove. The RX compounds thus include organic halides and particularly organic chlorides. Suitable organic halides include ethyl chloride, ethyl bromide, n-propyl chloride, isopropyl chloride, n-butyl chloride, isobutyl chloride, secbutyl chloride, tert-butyl chloride, allyl chloride, benzyl chloride, tolyl chloride, tolyl bromide, cyclohexyl fluoride, 1,l-dichloro-3,3-dimethylbutane, etc. The presence of both free alkali metal and a minor promoting amount of one or more of the organic halides is necessary for effecting the condensation of an olefin such as ethylene with the alkyl side chain or other saturated side chain of a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring compound having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a saturated carbon atom to which is attached at least one hydrogen atom at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres.

Better contacting of the reactants and catalysts and improved yields of desired products is sometimes eifected by mixing the free alkali metal and the organic halide catalyst mixture with a catalyst supporting or spacing material such as activated charcoal. Also, granular coke,

silica, alumina, pumice, porcelain, quartz, etc., steel turnings, copper shot, etc., which do not have an adverse influence on the reaction but improve the mixing may be used. Such spacing materials are useful in either batch type operation as in an autoclave or in continuous treatment in a tubular reactor or other suitable apparatus.

The process of this invention is carried out using either batch or continuous types of operation in suitable equipment such as an autoclave or tubular reactors constructed from steel or glass-lined steel reactors. The process is carried out at a temperature of from about to about 350 C. and preferably at a temperature of from about 150 to about 275 C. at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres. When the stirring or mixing of the reactants and catalyst is very thorough and efiicient, the process may be carried out readily at a temperature of C. and at a pressure of five atmospheres but higher temperatures and pressures are preferred when the mixing is less efficient. Pressures of greater than 50 atmospheres are not necessary and temperatures greater than about 350 C. will seldom be needed. The operating temperature and pressure will also depend upon the aromatic and olefinic hydrocarbons charged and the ratios present in the reaction zone as well as upon the catalyst present therein. 7

In order to promote the side chain alkylation, that is to attach only one alkyl group to the alkyl side chain and in some instances to diminish the loss of olefin through undesired side reactions, it is generally preferred to employ an excess of aromatic hydrocarbon to olefin such as ethylene in the process. In other words, the preferred ratio of aromatic hydrocarbon to'olefinic hydrocarbon is greater than one.

The amount of free alkali metal catalyst used in the process is dependent upon the catalyst and reactivity of the aromatic hydrocarbon undergoing side chain alkylation and upon the nature of the olefin used as the side chain alkylating agent. It has been found that rather large amounts of free alkali metal are desirable, particularly when the reaction is carried out under conditions which do not assure thorough mixing. It is preferred to use greater than about 2% by weight of free alkali metal based on the aromatic hydrocarbon reactant. The amount of organic halide promoter necessary has been determined as the mol ratio of free alkali metal to organic halide promoter. A mol ratio of free alkali metal to promoter greater than one is always desirable; mol ratios of free alkali metal to promoter of greater than 5 are preferred and better results have been obtained when this mol ratio is 10:1 or higher. This of course means that when the percentage by weight of free alkali metal based upon the aromatic reactant is fixed, smaller amounts of organic halide promoter are more desirable than larger amounts. The larger amounts result in lower mol ratios as hereinabove set forth. In the resultant catalyst mixture, the alkali metal is always present in an amount such that more than one atomic proportion of free alkali metal is present per molar proportion of organic halide utilized as a catalyst promoter.

In carrying out the process the olefinic hydrocarbon such as ethylene may be introduced continuously or intermittently, the latter method being commonly employed in the usual type of batch operation conducted in an autoclave so that the consumption of ethylene can be followed by observing the decrease in operating pressure of the autoclave as the reaction progresses. After the reaction has reached the desired stage of completion, the reaction products are discharged from the autoclave and unsaturated olefins such as ethylene are recovered for further use in the process or utilized for some other purpose. The mixture of reaction products is then subjected to suitable separation treatment such as filtration to remove unconsumed alkali metal catalyst and promoter followed by fractional distillation of normally liquid products to separate unconverted charging stock from side chain alkylated products and higher boiling materials, the latter being sometimes formed as by-products of the reaction.

In this process one molecular proportion of olefin such as ethylene and one molecular proportion of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene react in the presence of a catalyst such as sodium and a minor promoting amount of an organic halide such as ortho-chlorotoluene to form a longer chain alkylaromatic hydrocarbon as illustrated by the following equation:

H $113 IEI-(i C H2C Ha Catalyst 2= H2 P romoter Toluene Ethylene n-Propylbenzcne The resultant reaction product such as n-propylbenzene may sometimes react with a further molecular proportion of olefin such as ethylene to form a still longer chain alkylaromatic hydrocarbon as indicated in the following equation:

Catalyst P romoter n-Propylbenzcne Ethylene Z-Phenylpentane The alkylaromatic hydrocarbons and cycloalkylaromatic hydrocarbons may be reacted similarly with ethylene to produce longer chain alkylaromatic hydrocarbons from one molecular proportion of the charged alkylaromatic hydrocarbon and one, two, or more molecular proportions of the olefin.

The side chain alkylated compounds and particularly long-chain alkylaromatic hydrocarbons formed in this process are useful as starting materials for the production of wetting agents, synthetic detergents, and the like. For example, a long chain alkylbenzene hydrocarbon such as tridecylbenzene which is produced by condensing n-butylbenzene or sec-butylbenzene with a nonene fraction formed by polymerizing propylene in the presence of a solid phosphoric acid catalyst is a suitable starting material for detergent production. The tridecylbenzene is sulfonated with strong sulfuric acid to form tridecylbenzene sulfonic acid which is then neutralized with caustic soda, sodium bicarbonate or other alkali material to form a salt of tridecylbenzene sulfonic acid, said salt being useful as a 'trate was subjected to fractional distillation.

detergent for the washing of soiled cotton cloth or other materials. Some of the other condensation products formed by this process are also useful as intermediates in the production of chlorinated alkylaromatic hydrocarbons useful as insecticides and the condensation products may also be used as intermediates in the production of dyes, medicinals, etc.

The nature of this invention is illustrated further by the following examples which however should not be misconstrued to limit unduly the generally broad scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE I A glass-lined rotatable steel autoclave of 850 cc. capacity was charged with 92 grams of toluene and 10 grams of sodium. The autoclave was then closed and ethylene was introduced into the autoclave to an initial pressure of 30 atmospheres. The autoclave containing the toluene, sodium, and ethylene was then rotated and heated for three hours at a temperature of 200325 C. after which the autoclave was permitted to cool to room temperature. The residual ethylene was then discharged from the autoclave. The mixture of liquid products and used sodium was filtered to remove the sodium therefrom and the fil- The distillation separated the liquid products into fractions and the fractions with their properties are shown in Table I:

Table I FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION OF REACTION PRODUCTS FROM ETHYLATION OF TOLUENE WITH SODIUM ALONE Boiling Fraction No. Pplrt, Grams Composition 109-113 83.3 Toluene. 113-156 1.2 0.3 Grams Toluene.

156+ O. 7 Bottoms.

As can be seen from the table, side chain ethylation if it occurred at all yielded 1.6 grams of product. Neither n-propylbenzene nor 3-phenylpentane were observed in the product.

EXAMPLE II Essentially the same procedure as described in Example I was used in the following runs in order to evaluate various organic halides. In the first series of runs, one molecular proportion of toluene was reacted with ethylene at 30 atmospheres initial pressure in the presence of .68 grams of sodium and 2 to 5 grams of an acyclic halide. The results obtained in these runs are given in the following Table II:

Table II ETHYLATION OF TOLUENE WITH SODIUM AND ACYCLIC ORGANIC HALIDES Run No 1 2 4 5 6 7 Toluene:

Grams 92.

Ethylene, Atmospheres 30.

dium:

Grams 7.8 7.2 7.1 6.5 7.7. Mols 0.34 0.32 0.3 0. 0.34.

Organic Halide n-Butyl Chlo- Isobutyl Chlosec-Butyl t-Butyl Chlo- 1,l-dichloro-3,3-

nude. ride. ride. Cali 1 o ride. dirnethyl-buri e. tane.

Toluene Reacted, M01, Percent- Yield, Moi, Percent:

n-l'ropylbcnzcne 3-Phenylpentane 0 Mol Ratio, Sodium/Promoter Wt. Percent Promoter, Based on Sodium.

The yields given in the above table are based upon the mol per cent of toluene reacted. These runs illustrate various acyclic organic halides as promoters for the side chain ethylation of toluene with sodium at moderate temperatures and pressures.

The following three runs were carried out in a similar manner and illustrate that cyclic organic halides may also be utilized as promoters for the side chain ethylation of toluene with sodium. The results obtained are presented in the following Table III:

Table III SIDE CHAIN ETHYLATION OE TOLUENE WITH SODIUM AND CYGL'IG ORGANIC HALIDES With reference to runs '1-10above, it will be noted that the reaction proceeds at a temperature of about 200 C. and at an initial pressure of 30 atmospheres. The reaction is catalytic "since only a relatively small amount of sodium is necessary to cause 'the reaction. The product of the reaction consists predominantly of n-propylben- Zone and 3-phenylpentane. The presence of isopropylbenzene and n-amylbenzene was not detected. Side chain alkylation does not occur on contacting 92 grams of toluene with ethylene in the presence of sodium but in the absence of an organic halide promoter. A similar reaction carried out in the presence of sodium and two grams of orthochlorotoluene, for example, caused side chain alkylation of toluene.

EXAMPLE HI Table IV srpn CHAIN ETHYLAIWION OF ALKYLAROMATIC HYDRO- CARBONS wr'rn SODIUM AND O-CHLOROTOLUENE Run No 11 12 Tolueneqc' 92 Aromatic Compound pa-cgmene.

Mols. Ethylene, Atmospheres Sodium;

Grams M Temperature, Duration, Hours Aromatic Reacted, M01 Percent Yield, Moi Percent: n-Propylbenzene 3-Phenylpentane ter't-Amyl'tolnbnp Mol Ratio, Sodium/Promoter Wt. Percent Promoter, Based on Sodium It was found that the extent of reaction was about the same in each case, that is 51% of the toluene reacted compared to 45% of the "p-cyme'ne. Both compounds underwent the same extent of monoethylation. In the case of p-c'ymene which has three hydrogen atoms on one alpha carbon atom, the methyl group, and one hydrogen atom on another alpha carbon atom, the isopropyl group, the latter hydrogen is more active towards side chain ethylation.

We claim as 'our invention:

1. In a process which comprises reacting a non-conjugated olefinic hydrocarbon and an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a. hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkalkyl group, and an aralkyl group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction at a temperature of from about to 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an organic compound represented by the formula RX wherein R is a member of the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, and alkaryl radicals and X is a halogen atom, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

2. In a process which comprises reacting a nonconjugated olefinic hydrocarbon and an aromatic com: pound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which lastnamed carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of a hydrocarbon halide, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

3. In a process which comprises reacting a nonconjugated olefinic hydrocarbon and an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which lastnamed carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an alkyl chloride, and

recovering the resultant condensation product.

4. In a process which comprises reacting a non-conjugated olefinic hydrocarbon and an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an aryl chloride, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

5. In a process which comprises reacting a monoolefin and an aromatic compound selected from the group "consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, .a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkalkyl group, and an aralkyl group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached hydrocarbon halide, and densation product.

at least one hydrogen atom, the improvement which densation product.

6. In a process which comprises reacting a monoolefin and an aromatic compound selected from the group consistingof carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of a hydrocarbon halide, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

7. In a process which comprises reacting a monoolefin and an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an alkyl chloride, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

8. In a process which comprises reacting a monoolefin and an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an aryl chloride, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

9. A process which comprises reacting an alkene and an aromatichydrocarbon having attached to a nuclear carbonatom a carbon atom of a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkalkyl group, and an aralkyl group, and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the process being carried out at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 j C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an organic compound represented by the formula RX wherein R is a member of the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, and alkaryl radicals and X is a halogen atom, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

10. A process which comprises reacting an alkene and an aromatic hydrocarbon having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group. and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at leastone hydrogen atom at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from a bout 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of a recovering the resultant con- 11. A process which comprises reacting an alkene and an aromatic hydrocarbon having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom at a temperature of from about to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an alkyl chloride, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

12. A process which comprises reacting an alkene and an aromatic hydrocarbon having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an aryl chloride, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

13. In a process which comprises reacting ethylene and an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a'carbon atom of a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a cycloalkalkyl group, and an aralkyl group, and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an organic compound represented by the formula RX wherein R is a member of the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, and alkaryl radicals and X is a halogen atom, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

14. In a process which comprises reacting ethylene and an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of a hydrocarbon halide, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

15. In a process which comprises reacting ethylene and an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom, the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal and of a minor promoting amount of an alkyl chloride, and recovering the resultant condensation prodnot.

16. In a process which comprises reacting ethylene and an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of carbocyclic aromatic and heterocyclic aromatic ring compounds having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom,.the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction at a temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a free alkali metal andof a rninorpromoting amount of an aryl chloride, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

17. A process for producing a longer chain aromatic hydrocarbon which comprises reacting ethylene with an aromatic hydrocarbon having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom at a condensation temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a condensation pressure of from about to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a catalyst comprising essentially a free alkali metal and a minor promoting amount of a hydrocarbon halide, and recovering the resultant condensation products.

18. A process for producing a longer chain benzene hydrocarbon which comprises reacting ethylene with a benzene hydrocarbon having attached to a nuclear carbon atom a carbon atom of 'a saturated hydrocarbon group and to which last-named carbon atom is attached at least one hydrogen atom at a condensation temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a condensation pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a catalyst comprising essentially a free alkali metal and a minor promoting amount of a hydrocarbon halide, and recovering the resultant condensation product.

19. A process for producing n-propylbenzene which comprises condensing ethylene with toluene at a condensation temperature of from about 100 to about 350 C. and at a condensation pressure of from about 5 to about atmospheres in the presence of a catalyst comprising essentially a free alkali metal and a minor promoting amount of a hydrocarbon halide, and recovering the resultant n-propylbenzene.

20. A process for producing n-propylbenzene which comprises condensing ethylene and toluene at a condensation temperature of from about to about 350 C. and at a condensation pressure of from about 5 to about 50 atmospheres in the presence of a catalyst comprising essentially free sodium and a minor promoting amount of o-chlorotoluene, and recovering the resultant n-propylbenzene.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,448,641 Whitman Sept. 7, 1948 2,548,803 Little, Jr. Apr. 10, 1951 2,670,390 Pines et al. Feb. 23, 1954 2,688,044 Pines et al. Aug. 31, 1954 

1. IN A PROCESS WHICH COMPRISES REACTING A NON-CONJUGATED OLEFINIC HYDROCARBON AND AN AROMATIC COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CARBOCYCLIC AROMATIC AND HETEROCYCLIC AROMATIC RING COMPOUNDS HAVING ATTACHED TO A NUCLEAR CARBON ATOM A CARBON ATOM OF A HYDROCARBON GROUP SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF AN ALKYL GROUP, A CYCLOALKYL GROUP, A CYCLOALKALKYL GROUP, AND AN ARALKYL GROUP AND TO WHICH LAST-NAMED CARBON ATOM IS ATTACHED AT LEAST ONE HYDROGEN ATOM, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES CARRYING OUT THE REACTION AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 100* TO 350* C. AND AT A PRESSURE OF FROM ABOUT 5 TO ABOUT 50 ATMOSPHERES IN THE PRESENCE OF A FREE ALKALI METAL AND OF A MINOR PROMOTING AMOUNT OF AN ORGANIC COMPOUND REPRESENTED BY THE FORMULA RX WHEREIN R IS A MEMBER OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKYL, ALKENYL, CYCLOALKYL, ARALKYL, ARYL, AND ALKARYL RADICALS AND X IS A HALOGEN ATOM, AND RECOVERING THE RESULTANT CONDENSATION PRODUCT. 